FORTUNE's annual ranking of America's leading businesswomen

Sweeney, a perennial No. 1 on women-in-Hollywood power lists, last year added ABCís eight owned and operated stations to her portfolio. Earlier this year she signed up Katie Couric
on a multiplatform deal including a syndicated talk show.

The list is compiled by FORTUNE editors, who consider four criteria: the size and importance of the womanís business in the global economy, the health and direction of the
business, the arc of the womanís career (resume and runway ahead), and societal and cultural influence.